Brooklyn Community Services' (BCS) volunteers tend to Brooklyn community gardens during the BCS 2016 Spring into Action events

This included 50 volunteers who helped restore BCS’ urban garden for spring. BCS also stewarded 73 street trees in Bedford-Stuyvesant and picked up 35 bags of trash on Coney Island’s waterfront.

The Arc of Delaware County and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) release trout into Launt Pond

“BCS continues to create powerful volunteer partnerships with hundreds of individuals, community organizations, the faith-based community, local businesses and corporations who share our vision of ONE Brooklyn Community,” said Kristina Reintamm, BCS’ director of Community Education & Engagement. “Driven by the power of social responsibility, Spring into Action is meeting Brooklyn’s pressing needs through community collaboration.”

Volunteers from the Arc of Delaware County prepare SUNY Delhi's butterfly garden for its winged visitors

In another example of collaboration, Dave DeForest, community partner and assistant professor at SUNY Delhi, and Harry Dorsey, an adventure recreation student, partnered with The Arc of Delaware County to “spring clean” SUNY Delhi’s Outdoor Education Center butterfly garden by turning up some dirt to prepare the way for butterflies.

It wasn’t all work and no play; everyone enjoyed a cookout and picnic after the work was done.

“I would just like to say THANK YOU for the great day yesterday,” said Heidi Friedman, a direct support professional, in a message to Dave DeForest. “Both Garett and I appreciated all the time and effort you put into the planning… Garett smiled all the way back.”

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